Julius Randle is the face of the Knicks' revamped image and rebuilt group, the star of last year's improbable playoff team that reignited the basketball craze in New York City.
The 26-year-old is frequently chosen to field postgame questions on the court after a win, and almost always among the players available to the media after a win or loss. After Sunday's disappointing loss to the Cavaliers, it was Randle telling reporters that the team needed to play with more edge, and the responsibility lies on him for that lack of intensity, particularly on the defensive end.
Randle's identity with the Knicks is the unquestioned leader, and the heart and soul of a young group looking to take another leap. But that identity also goes directly against Randle's natural instincts.
"I'm an introverted person too," Randle said after leading the Knicks to a much-needed win over the 76ers on Monday. "I'm kind of a lead-by-example with my actions, stuff like that…it's just getting out of your comfort zone, growing as a person and a leader. The next step for me is just a little bit more vocal with my teammates and talking and making sure they're staying together, and telling each other what they see out there."
It's hard to tell when Randle is on the court, but the requirements of being a leader don't come naturally. Much like the Knicks themselves, it takes a group effort to bring out the best in a team not exactly radiating with natural, superstar talent. Randle has to push his confidence as a leader out of himself when he's on the floor, much like New York needs its best collective effort to reach its goals for this season.
"It's kind of cool to see who I was as a player and person coming into the league, and year eight where I am now," Randle said. "Just comfortable with being uncomfortable. That's one of the things for me out there on the court, getting outside of my comfort zone, telling teammates what I see, asking them what they see. It's really just about communication.
"It's definitely different for me, but I'll take it in stride."
Randle's out-of-nowhere All-Star season last year thrust him into the responsibility of leading a team otherwise dominated by youth. As the Knicks look to take another step forward towards contention, the veteran forward looks to make his next stride in his unnatural identity as a leader. For Randle, the focus this year is making his voice heard on the floor, not just in the locker room or from behind a microphone during pre and postgame interviews.
"A lot of things out there in the game and defensively, or in the game period, we can eliminate if we just communicate," Randle said. "Just getting out of my comfort zone, getting out of our comfort zone, and just trying to be more vocal."
There's been an admitted discomfort for Randle as he continues his transition into a floor general and the face of New York's brightest stretch of basketball in nearly a decade, but ironically, pushing through that discomfort has allowed him to gain a stronger sense of comfort in his overall play. By getting out of his comfort zone with his direct leadership, Randle has been able to put less of a mental strain on the basketball side of things, and let his game take over. In that sense, he still is action-oriented. But grooming the vocal aspect of his leadership has let those natural talents shine even brighter.
"Getting lost in the team and helping others, that helps me out as a player as far as my game," Randle said. "I think it's just another way, talking more, communicating with each other more, it just helps me personally get lost in the team, and from there I just go out and play and make the game easy."
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